Happy Monday everyone,
Over the weekend I decided to do some experiments to see what type of bar is produced from differing levels of lye concentration and discount.
I created a recipe using some bases I had on hand,
25% CO
35% OO
35% beef tallow
5% castor oil
I calculated the recipes as follows, with batches 1, 2 and 3 using a 5% lye discount and a 28%, 30%, and 33% lye concentration in that order. I then repeated this with batches 4 through 6 using a 10% lye discount, and 7 through 9 using a 15% lye discount.
I ended up with 9 "mini" batches of soap each yielding 3 bars. I left 2 of the bars plain and colored the 3rd bar with a 1/4 teaspoon of black walnut hull powder at trace to see how the colors would be affected over time.
I made all of the batches the exact same way and forced gel in the oven so there wouldn't be any discrepancies.
Over all it was a very insightful and amazing experiment. I throughly enjoyed watching how the batter would trace differently and how for some batter it would remain the same or stiffen up after a 2 minute wait period before I poured it into the molds. It was also very interesting to see and feel the difference in each bar as I unmolded the following day. Some bars were very blemished and others were perfectly smooth with an amazing shine to them.
Anywho, I thought I'd share my excitement and some pictures with you all.
The pictures are in order of how the batches were made i.e. Pictures 2 and 3 are batch 1 at the top and 3 at the bottom and so forth.
Over the weekend I decided to do some experiments to see what type of bar is produced from differing levels of lye concentration and discount.
I created a recipe using some bases I had on hand,
25% CO
35% OO
35% beef tallow
5% castor oil
I calculated the recipes as follows, with batches 1, 2 and 3 using a 5% lye discount and a 28%, 30%, and 33% lye concentration in that order. I then repeated this with batches 4 through 6 using a 10% lye discount, and 7 through 9 using a 15% lye discount.
I ended up with 9 "mini" batches of soap each yielding 3 bars. I left 2 of the bars plain and colored the 3rd bar with a 1/4 teaspoon of black walnut hull powder at trace to see how the colors would be affected over time.
I made all of the batches the exact same way and forced gel in the oven so there wouldn't be any discrepancies.
Over all it was a very insightful and amazing experiment. I throughly enjoyed watching how the batter would trace differently and how for some batter it would remain the same or stiffen up after a 2 minute wait period before I poured it into the molds. It was also very interesting to see and feel the difference in each bar as I unmolded the following day. Some bars were very blemished and others were perfectly smooth with an amazing shine to them.
Anywho, I thought I'd share my excitement and some pictures with you all.
The pictures are in order of how the batches were made i.e. Pictures 2 and 3 are batch 1 at the top and 3 at the bottom and so forth.
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